Two stylish Pinot Noirs from Neudorf

You know, I just love Pinot Noir. And I get a lot of my Pinot pleasure from New Zealand these days. Here are a couple of recent releases from Neudorf, who make their Pinot Noirs with a distinctly savoury twist. It’s not just about sweet fruit here.

Neudorf Moutere Pinot Noir 2010 Nelson, New Zealand
14% alcohol. Wild yeast, no fining or filtering, 600 cases made. Good concentration of taut, savoury, spicy black cherry and plum fruit with just a hint of damson bitterness. Nicely savoury and intense with a pronounced mineral component, and a little tar and smoke. Holds up nicely over three days, and I reckon this has potential for mid-term ageing (5-10 years, depending on how you like your Pinot). 92/100

Neudorf Moutere Pinot Noir Home Vineyard 2010 Nelson, New Zealand
14.5% alcohol. From older vines, low cropping, mostly Pommard clone. 170 cases made. Sweetly aromatic with pure red cherry fruit and a silky texture. Fine, fragrant sweet red fruits character but with a bit of spicy, grippy structure and a hint of oak. There’s a pronounced mineral dimension. Give it a few years to settle down and this will age beautifully for a decade, I reckon. 93/100